Fluence partners with Excelsior to supply 2.2GWh of US-manufactured batteries for BESS

Fluence Energy and investor Excelsior Energy Capital announced an agreement to install 2.2 GWh of battery storage projects in the United States beginning in 2025. These US projects will utilize domestically manufactured batteries, modules, and supporting systems.

Under the agreement, Excelsior will deploy Fluence’s Gridstack Pro product line to deliver firm capacity and flexible power to support a more resilient U.S. electricity grid. These projects are anticipated to help foster a domestic supply chain for critical clean tech manufacturing in the U.S. and directly support American jobs and battery storage production capacity. Battery cells for the 2.2 GWh of projects will primarily be manufactured in Tennessee and battery modules will be manufactured by Fluence in Utah.

Anne Marie Denman, Co-Founder and Partner of Excelsior Energy Capital, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We try to identify and work with partners who think about the world similarly to us – prioritizing long term fundamentals and stability and committing to that future through decisive investments. We found a natural alignment with Fluence, impressed by their early and material commitment to domestically sourcing battery cells and their focus on siting supply chains near to the demand. With this partnership we have collectively stepped forward with Fluence as an early mover in domestic supply of BESS, which in turn serves as stabilizing force for our BESS investments in the United States.”

”We are excited to support Excelsior on the deployment of 2.2 GWh of Gridstack Pro. This deal is a testament to the competitiveness of U.S.-manufactured battery storage systems,” said John Zahurancik, Fluence president, Americas. “Excelsior and other customers see U.S. manufactured products as a valuable way to mitigate uncertainties in their projects while supporting American jobs and local economic activity.”

Announced in October, Gridstack Pro is one of the first energy storage solutions expected to qualify as domestic content under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Recent guidance updates from the US Department of Treasury have helped accelerate commercial activity in support of these US-manufactured products.

Chris Frantz, partner of Excelsior Energy Capital, added, “The Excelsior team is excited about this new agreement with Fluence. It reduces battery supply risks for our projects and fosters a strong partnership with an industry leader. Together, we will leverage our strengths to drive sustainable growth and innovation in the industry.”

Fluence, one of the largest suppliers of energy storage systems, began creating a diversified supply chain several years ago in an effort to support the aggressive volume of demand for large-scale, high performance, and highly financeable systems. Disruptions in the supply chain from war, terrorism, weather, trade barriers, and geopolitical uncertainties have created large impacts across the renewable sector. Energy storage is one of the key enabling technologies for a reliable power grid, requiring more options for safe, high quality, and low risk system supply to support leading power developers and utilities. By working with Fluence, Excelsior is showing its ongoing commitment to using US-manufactured technologies as the company grows its clean energy portfolio, having recently announced a 2 GW supply agreement for domestically produced solar panels.